Mascot Man & MADID

Aku dan Amin ke Mydin Meru semalam. Tempat baru warga Ipoh untuk ber’shopping’ dan menambahkan seri pada Ipoh yang ekonominya semakin menunjukkan tanda2 positif di bawah pemerintahan si ‘metalik’ – mengambil ayat kononnya sinikal, yang agak bodoh bagi aku, oleh Ngeh Koo Ham. Banyak barang2 kemudahan di situ dan harganya memang murah. Turun escalator di tingkat bawah, ada promosi Astro, agak meriah dengan cabutan bertuah dan mascot man. Hari minggu dan cuti umum memang beginilah aktiviti yang disukai warga Ipoh bersama keluarga masing-masing. 

Aku teringat sekitar tahun 1992, MPOC (Malaysian Palm Oil Council) mengadakan satu promosi minyak sawit di The Store, Ipoh. Entah macam mana punya arrangement, aku dapat salah satu watak jadi mascot man untuk promosi MPOC tu. Panasnya costume tu ya amat tapi disebabkan elaun RM40 ¼ hari punya kerja.. beress!! RM40 zaman-zaman tu kira kaya woo!! Siap dapat ambik barang-barang promosi lagi, susu, sabun mandi, segala bagai... Kalau Tan Sri Yusof tahu aku pernah jadi antara mascot man untuk MPOC, mahu digelakkannya aku masa meeting AAC baru-baru ni. Tan Sri Yusof adalah CEO MPOC dan merupakan ahli Academic Advisory Council kami. Beliau merupakan seorang ‘fighter’ untuk Malaysian Palm Oil industry especially when dealing with market discrimination (shielding US domestic biodiesel industry from foreign competition) by the US. Dia juga ada blog sendiri... so cool!!

Esok Amin akan ke tempat baru untuk menyambung pengajiannya. Kali ini dia akan ke Madrasah Idrisiah yang bersebelahan dengan Masjid Ubudiah di Kuala Kangsar. Mulanya kami tak berapa pasti dengan sekolah ini tetapi setelah membuat sedikit homework, fahamlah kami yang sekolah tersebut merupakan antara sekolah ugama terulung di negeri ini. Ianya diasaskan semenjak 1922 oleh almarhum Sultan Idris I Mursyidul `Adzam Shah dan Tuan Guru Sheikh Haji Nawawi bin Haji Tahir. Madrasah ini telah mengalumnikan ramai tokoh antaranya mufti Perak sendiri, Dato’ Seri Harussani. 

Aerial view MADID

P/s - semoga Amin berjaya..

 

Perak Academy (I)

I remember a small chit chat between myself and the late Dato’ KK Lim (prior to take over of the Ipoh International School by Kinta Properties) on his passion to ensure Ipoh to be lively as it was when tin was the king of industry in this state. He added that lots of investor found Ipoh (& Perak) were not able to offer what he called ‘an investment package’ i.e. good schools, place to take a break after hard day of work, etc. And his thought was agreed by his son, ‘Mr Big’ Lim Si Boon.

Dato KK Lim passed away recently and his son Si Boon is now the rightful owner of Kinta Properties and is also now the President of the Perak branch of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).

I could see Si Boon’s name as one of the members of the Perak Academy Board of Governor. Hence, I foresee the Perak Academy establishment is to provide some input to the ‘investment package’ that is mentioned earlier. Kinta Properties has now lots of property investment in Perak, very own Golf Course, International School, and representative in MICCI Perak.

Dato' Seri Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan (Chairman of the Board) is a long time friend of KK Lim’s family. In fact they put his name as a forefront in ensuring the ‘green light’ of proposed taking over of the international school from Yayasan Perak & MB’s Office.

Other info on Perak Academy in the following link http://www.perakacademy.com/structure.html

P/s - I met Azwee during Tarawih prayer last night and he complaints how difficult his business want to move forward due to 'restriction' and 'control' made by manufacturer and wholesaler. Without their support, Azwee could not deliver goods in a competitive price. So, I wonder how merit comes into picture for Malay businessman in Penang?

BERSIH 2.0 aka Kotor 200.0

Aku pernah ke Metro Manila beberapa tahun lalu atas urusan pejabat. Hari pertama di sana kami diberitahu kotaraya Manila dianggap sebagai sebuah kota demonstrasi. Jangan silap sikit maka berdemolah warga-warga Manila ini. Daripada ketidakpuasan hati kepada kerajaan, demo kerana perasaan empathy kepada negara lain, demo bogel pelajar kerana kenaikan yuran pengajian dan sbgnya.

Masuk hari kedua demo betul-betul berlaku. Kali ini demo diadakan oleh pengusaha-pengusaha Jeepney sekitar Manila yang tidak berpuashati dengan peraturan baru kerajaan. Kami pada mulanya tidak dibenarkan untuk ke Univ of Santo Tomas tetapi driver MPV Royal Starex (huhu..hanya sebuah teksi di Manila) yang tersangat mahir dengan Metro Manila dan kawasan sekitarnya, kami berjaya sampai ke destinasi tanpa melalui kawasan demonstrasi.

Akibat kejadian demo yang sering terjadi di Metro Manila, kerajaan dan pendemo-pendemo khususnya pembangkang telah bersetuju setiap aktiviti demo ini dilakukan di sebuah tempat khusus, yang tidak menganggu urusan ekonomi sekitar Metro Manila. Namun begitu sambutannya tidaklah semeriah bilamana demo diadakan di kotaraya. Selepas beberapa demonstrasi, pendemo kembali semula ‘berpesta’ di kota-kota besar seperti ibunegara Manila dan pusat komersil Makati.

BERSIH 2.0

9 Julai satu lagi demo mahu diadakan di ibu kota Kuala Lumpur. Kalau BERSIH 1.0 berjaya membawa kekalahan kepada 5 negeri di Semenanjung, BERSIH 2.0 diharap dapat membawa pakatan pembangkang terus ke Putrajaya. Alasan BERSIH untuk membawa keadilan kepada sistem Pilihanraya di Malaysia jelas satu omongan kosong kerana niat sebenarnya hanyalah berasaskan politik. Itu semua orang tahu, hatta bebudak sekolah rendah pun boleh mengerti.

Impaknya terkesan. Industri pelancongan negara akan terjejas. Setahun dari sekarang akan ada yang berkata, lihat..Menteri Pelancongan Malaysia tidak reti buat kerja. Ranking Malaysia dari segi Human Rights akan merudum. Setahun lagi dari sekarang ada yang akan kata, lihat..Malaysia sama taraf dengan Libya, Syria yang mengamalkan kuku besi dan tidak pernah mengiktiraf hak-hak rakyatnya. Bila keseluruhan ekonomi merudum dan FDI tidak lagi mengalir ke Malaysia, setahun dari sekarang ada orang Manjoi yang akan kata Husni Hanadzlah patut undur dari menjadi Menteri Kewangan.

Bila Ambiga bersuara mengenai IFC (Suruhanjaya Antara Agama) semua menentang. Ambiga diam. Bila Ambiga bersuara tentang Lina Joy dan mempertikaikan hukum Syariah, semua angkat lengan. Ambiga juga terdiam. Tapi bila Ambiga twist and turn kata semua ini kononnya keadilan untuk rakyat, semua menyokong memAm-babibuta-ga. Ambiga akan hanya menjadi Ambiga kalau tidak ada orang-orang Melayu menyokong di belakang beliau. Untuk kali ini aku bersetuju dengan ulasan Ust Khazim Elias (al-hafiz) berkenaan konsep Ketuanan Melayu...

P/s – Bagi aku BERSIH 2.0 hanyalah kotor 200%

House No 267 Part II

The ’under-renovation’ house no 267 is finally completed after due for more than one month. Well, there are still few minor works that need to be carried out but all in all, it could be considered as a finished job. I’m happy so does the contractor. So we eventually kawtim! I’m bit eager to get into the house after so many years and to get back to the kampong-neighbourhood kinda surrounding. Most importantly to get back to the natural life without a touch of too much modernization, thou Gugusan Manjoi tu taklah kampung mana sangat pun :-)

House no 267 wif 2 pagar yg cantek..

The kampung will soon no longer be a ’kampong’ with the recent development of two Mydin Malls, one in Sg Tapah and another in Meru. The Mall in Sg Tapah is just a walking distance while the one in Meru is like 10 minutes drive from house no 267. Sad thing was the development site is on the famous hi-chapperal field aka tempat jatuh lagi dikenang. Well, I guess that was the price that we need to pay for sustainability thou some people complaining that the development will kill off IKS in surrounding areas.

Padang Hi-Chapperal tinggal kenangan..

 

Tulen Bang...

Ada dua perkara yang boleh membuatkan tahap ketinggian BP (atau radiasi Fukushima) aku menurun. Pertamanya bilamana aku mengadap benda2 yang menyejukkan hati, quran, muka anak-anak aku, gambar arwah mak dsbgnya, atau yang keduanya teringatkan kisah2 lama. After a while baru aku faham, yang ada pada aku hanyalah cerita2 lama untuk membuatkan aku senyum semula menghadapi hari esok.

Ayat-ayat di atas takde kene mengena dengan tajuk..huhu.

Ada beberapa isu berkenaan tulen berlaku 2-3 hari ni. Pertamanya kisah telur plasu (fake egg) yang dijumpai di Pulau Pinang. Walaupun Menteri Kesihatan baru-baru ini mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa telur yang disangka palsu itu mempunyai tahap protein yang sama dengan telur yang keluar dari ayam, wife aku dah tak berani lagi beli telur daripada groceries store. Kalau yang dari Jusco, Tesco buleh katanya. Telur palsu itu diperbuat daripada pelbagai bahan termasuk kalsium karbonat, kalsium klorida, gelatin dan beberapa campuran bahan kimia. Asalnya daripada China (teringat kes susu Melamine yang mengakibatkan lebih 53 ribu kanak-kanak China merana) dan telur palsu ini pembikinannya hanya memerlukan 0.55 Yuan sekilogram berbanding 5.6 Yuan/kg bagi telur asli.

Aku rasa yang berani buat benda bukan2 ni semuanya takde telor…

Ada satu lagi kes palsu dan tulen ni. Yang ini pulak memerlukan imaginasi dan ’kesungguhan’ yang tinggi untuk kita menilai ketulenannya. Dah lama tak tengok cite berwarna ni tapi untuk yang ini aku usahakan jugak. Dapatlah yang 1.47 saat punya tapi takpelah sebab bukan itu tujuan aku sebenarnya pun. Aku cuma nak memastikan keauthentication pelakunya. Setelah belek punya belek, in summary, kalau pun ada pelakon yang serupa, pelakon tu memanglah hebat sebab gaya, rupa cara senyum memang macam yang empunya diri. Tapi aku percaya innocent only until proven guilty. Lagipun memang banyak yang palsu di Malaysia ni.

P/s- Aku teringat cerita komedi 80an lakonan Salih Yaakob, Mr Os sama Ziela Jalil dengan tagline popularnya ”...Tulen bang....” huhu

Angola, Indiana

UNI-VERSITY TOWNS

By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

on March 28, 2011 8:00 AM

I had often wondered why uni-versity towns like Cambridge and Oxford do not develop in Malaysia after we build uni-versities in places far from the towns. After much study and thinking things over I have concluded that it is because uni-versities, particularly Government uni-versities, build all the shops within the campus and probably operate them as well. The residences for the students and staff are all built by the Uni-versity.

Developers find no opportunity for developing the surrounding land through building shops and residences for staff and students. There will only be uni-versity campuses and no uni-versity towns. Uni-versities can be catalysts for new growth areas. That was how Cambridge and Oxford towns were founded. With clever planning these uni-versity towns can be very attractive and can attract visitors, especially relatives of the students coming to visit them. Maybe those in charge of uni-versity funding and development should think about this.

------------------------

Teringat Angola. The uni-versity campus is so beautifully landscaped that it was built within a compound of half golf course and half residential areas. You’ll find a main road in between campus buildings, right from downtown Angola to Zoelner Golf course. Angola, a small lakes-ville countryside-picturesque town, is located in the northeast corner of Indiana. It’s like an hour drive from Fort Wayne (2nd best place in Indiana I guess), Kalamazoo (There were lots of Malaysian in the Michigan State Univ in 90s) and about 2 hours drive from Metropolitan Chicago (where you’ll get all your halal daging ayam from Devon Street). Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, and Toledo are also only about three hours away via Interstate 69.

Angola is just like Tronoh. My first impression upon arrival at that town was a quite, peaceful town and perhaps a place for ol’ folk untuk menghabiskan saki baki hidup. It was a normal view in Angola if you find old lady doing their shopping all by themselves. If you go downtown for entertainment, you’ll find few good places to lepaking; Brokaw for instant is the place to release your stress watching movies. Well, we usually rent videos from Scotts at $0.52 cents per movie (kalau movie berwarna tu charge mahal skit ha ha ha). Further, you’ll find Bowling Alley; place to heat up yourself during winter (Unnerving feeling occurs and the need to disappear when some red-neck started to bowl foolishly. Further up, you’ll find rows of shops at the left and right side of the main street. It was also part of an entertaining routine for us to shop at Wall Mart, Myers only to refund back the goods purchased within a month time (taking advantage of 30days no-question-asked money back guarantee policy).

Taking up north, you could find beautiful lake view of Pokagon State Park. We used to have our bbq at the open camping area. You can do swimming, fishing, jungle tracking or just enjoy the nature. In a tragedy back in 1995, one of our Bangladeshi girlfriends drowned in that Pokagon lake. There are so many lakes in that State Park. I once tried to explain that to a librarian lady by saying “Oo.. there got many nice beaches there..”(which sounded like bitches…and she goes like “Oo…Ok?” frowning).

Further north, you could do shopping at value price from the outlets at Freemont. Levi’s, Reebok, Guess & Fossils, Queen Anne (sudu garpu yang mahal), you name it. In Levi’s, I barely could find pant of my size. :p~~~

Angola is populated by about 17 to 18 thousand of many ethnicity; Asian, African American (students only), Amish (yang tidak menggunakan enjin dalam hidup), the Whites and the famous Red-neck. The Uni-versity community is 10% of Angola’s population. No doubt Angola is the best fun place to live, safe and comfortable (at least when you not bump into the red-neck)

P/s – The uni really lighten up the surrounding areas. Wonder our neighbor Bob still there finishing his Bachelor Degree at 40++.

Crisis: Sudan

The Sudanese got to accept the fact that the country is now divided into three groups; the going to be poor Muslim in the North, the resource rich Christian in the South and the left behind tribe in between. The North under the leadership of a president that has been indicted by the International Criminal court might find it difficult to progress economically with its 35 million populations. The South on the other hand, has huge economic potential in oil & gas reserves and with population only between 7 – 9 mills to take care of.

Western has long interest in Sudan’s O&G potential especially in the South and Western Sudan of Darfur. The human right conflict is no other than to create pressure to the President to release the South from Khartoum. President Bashir might no longer be able to withstand the pressure and probably by agreeing to the referendum and secession were the only way to maintain his position in Khartoum. I foresee the new independent Southern Sudan will be fully backed by Western countries considering its potential in producing oil & gas (85% of Sudan’s oil input comes from the South). The current O&G player especially China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and PETRONAS who both of them holds 70% stake of block 1, 2 & 4 will find it difficult to ‘maintain’ the relationship in the future. After all, both companies have been labeled as the ‘provider’ to the wealthy elites of Khartoum (reported almost 40% of O&G profit was siphoned by these elites). Ethiopia as its neighboring country will also play a pivotal role in ensuring Southern resources will be easily made available to the Western. I have for all time believed Ethiopia is a reflection of Israel in Africa (so as Singapore in South East Asia).

“The Jews and the Christians will never be satisfied with you, O Muhammad, until you follow their way” (Al Baqarah:120). Everyone knew about this verse but what amaze me is how they able to manipulate the situation to achieve their goals.

Whether separation is good? Well, the feeling of oppression and marginalized for decades has turned Southern peoples’ attention from poverty, instability and struggle in maintaining a new nation to a jubilant 98.8% voters agreeing to the secession.

What will happen to the tribes in between? I suppose they will be forever in their uncivilized world. I was in Khartoum, Gezira and Addis Ababa in 2006 following a business trip to Sudan & Ethiopia. How I missed friendly Sudanese, the famous Blue & White Nile and Pak Mandy?

Make Sure ‘Barang’ Hang Naik..

Apa gunanya MEB konon untuk meningkatkan pendapatan rakyat kalau kuasa membelinya rendah? Lebih teruk lagi rakyat berpendapatan tinggi by 2015 tapi 2010 (belum masuk 2011) harga minyak, gula dah naik. Lepas ni sure mamak Nasmir pun naikkan harga canai, mak Bedah naikkan harga barang masakan sebab harga gula naik. Naik 5 sen tapi harga canai pun naik 5 sen jugak. Hampeh betui! Takpe at least kita tahu PRU lambat lagi la nak datang tu..

Its time to tighten our belly again. This time it is not because of higher world fuel price, it’s the government’s 2nd best reason..subsidi! Banyak la subsidi. Dah nama pun barangan terkawal, kenalah sokong..kata Rakyat Didahulukan? Nanti semua rakyat naik minyak, kasi lempang sume Menteri2 yang dah naik lemak ni..baru ada akai..Cemana la rakyat nak beli Lekiu la, Lekir La, Tuah Saga la? Nak naik keldai tarik kereta roda zaman Nasib Do Re Mi, letak logo Mercedes Benz ke, VW ke, dah tak dibuat orang lagi zaman ni. Buat malu je.

Teringat zaman-zaman study dulu. Beli kereta Honda Shuttle 10 tahun USD2500, beli barang letrik..pehh! murah2. Beli baju, minyak wangi branded-branded. Yang tipu2 longgok2 style Petaling Street mampuih x jumpa. Cost of living rendah (kecuali insurans la tinggi). Kos buruh pun tinggi. Kerja kat Wild Pizza ke, Library ke, pungut apple kat ladang ke semua dibayar mahal. Kat sini, gaji mahal pun cam la ni rasa x berbaloi je keje. Jgn ingat aku x bersyukur. Ada kerja ni lebih baik la daripada xde kerje. Dan jangan ingat aku tak patriotic sebab buat posting ni. Kalau x patriotic dah lama la aku cuci pinggan kat US sana, kumpul duit banyak2 pastu berlagak bila balik Malaysia. Tapi aku Cuma nak berkongsi keresahan kebanyakan rakyat dengan kenaikan ini. Mungkin kerajaan patut berhemat dengan segala bana projek daripada melempiaskan kesemua masalah kerajaan kepada rakyat. Tau la hutang Negara dah banyak. PETRONAS pun dah xleh nak gagau lagi…

P/s - Yang penting bro, kena make sure ’barang’ tu sentiasa boleh naik. Kalau dah xmo pandai2 la cari pak Leman tukang urut ke, doktor ED ke..huhu

New Source of Energy

Even as an Oil and Gas (O&G) producing country and the commodity price that shot through the ceiling for the past 20 years or so, Malaysia should not at all time depending so much to the O&G as their main source of energy (or pocket money for its spending). There will be times when the fuel used up and the price will be so volatile that we will not be able to depend on it. The cost of maintaining and producing O&G has been increasing tremendously that the government is considering other alternative source of energy. And with reliable source of energy and reasonable (relatively cheap) maintenance expenditure, all road leads to the nuclear energy. Tenaga Nasional for instance is pushing the government for the decision on utilization of the nuclear energy, hoping to be finalized by year end. In fact the study of using nuclear as an alternative energy has been started way in the 70s but was put on hold since PETRONAS and the O&G industry is in the limelight.

There are pros and cons of having nuclear power. The concern of expensive maintenance and security matters; radiation overblown for instance were highlighted since the very beginning. Tun M is his 24 May’s blog entry has also commented on the difficulties of disposing the nuclear waste, other than the danger of using the nuclear material. I asked myself since when Tun M put concern, worried in front of his vision? Anyway, he is no longer in the Office.

Malaysia’s plan to have the vision 2020 (original idea generated by Tun M himself) will be put on hold when natural O&G are not sufficient enough to power up the industry concerned or dry out, expectedly in 10 years time. The low electricity rates currently we enjoying are depending so much on the price of O&G. Cheap energy is the main source of industrialization in this country. Should the O&G no longer applicable, and the price of electricity is no longer cheap, you believe the likes of Perwaja Steel, Proton will survive? We are talking before 2020 here. With the above uncertainty of future supply and volatile fuel price, I believe nuclear power should be an option not to be missed out. In fact it could be the only choice of energy for us in the future.

Danger and hazard? There were concern and worries that need to be highlighted. No doubt. But then again by the time Malaysia has its first nuclear plant, the concern on safety and maintenance of nuclear disposal could be solved. If we start now, perhaps we might need another 5-6 years for the plant to start operation. If we keep talking before making any decision, we might need another 10 years from now. I say we should act and implement. Obviously we are way behind Vietnam which has started the nuclear initiatives 9 years back. South Korea has lots of nuclear power plant that is considered safe and reliable, accredited by the Word Association of Nuclear Operators, pushing their country as the 13th largest economic power from 177th position in the 50s. At the end of last year, 16% of the energy demand came from nuclear supply and the trend of utilizing this type of energy is stable since the 80s. Should we in future rely on our tourism industry to climb the ladder?

Well, this posting is not intended to talk whether we should or should not engage in the nuclear industry. Let someone else more expert in this area to discuss about this (Prof Riedle perhaps). One may also browse thru and find lots of interesting article on the pros and cons of nuclear power as an alternative source of energy in Malaysia. What I’m interested was in the research and education part of this. Should the institution start to engage and offer education/research in nuclear physics? Do we have a market for physics graduate in Malaysia?

EDUCATION

To do research, institution needs a good foundation. Research cannot stand alone i.e. you cannot have noble laureate working on his own without support from dedicated staff and students. Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies will provide the needed support for research to bloom. Should the institution wish to engage in nuclear research, it must have a good foundation studies in physics. Now the question is will our ‘big sponsor’ agree to this? Will they also explore into other alternative energy source such as nuclear, nuclear physics? This is what Tenaga Nasional has been doing for the past 10 years and I believe the institution under their flagship will engage into physics studies in due time.

The second question was will the government or the industry are able to support graduates from physics or nuclear studies? i.e. employability issue. This is another element to be highly considered as physics is always regarded as a foundation, not a specialized studies, that will not suit the needs of the industry. Well I may be wrong in justifying this but even Civil and Electrical Engineering are having the same problem with their graduates’ employability.

I will leave both questions to be answered by readers (if any - obviously I do not have the answer to the questions either).

HPA (bukan Higher Purchase Agreement..)

Before 2007 (of which the era of the economic crisis going on) international investment are circulated around the developed countries. However after the turmoil, the trend of investment has shifted to the emerging and growing nations such as China, India and few ASEAN countries including Malaysia. There are few explanations on this. Some claims that the market in the developed countries such as the United States, Japan and even Singapore has been saturated; meaning growth percentage is comparatively low. Some says these emerging countries have vast potential not only on resources but also in terms of its human capital.

So the question was how do we take up this opportunity positively? The Global Village on the Move (GVOTM) 2010 has addressed the importance of showing fundamentally capable human resources, in order to attract more investment to these countries. Should we then push our research to leverage on the trend of investment that is expected to come? This is where research in universities and R&D Institution is extremely important.

Malaysia’s percentage of GDP growth is expected to be at 4.7% with GDP per capita of 7.5%, the best among ASEAN countries at this moment. China in comparison with population of 1.3 billion has GDP growth at 9%. This simply means that China has a bigger potential in growth should their people are able to produce, to leverage in its human capital as compared to the likes of Japan and the United States (at 1.9 and 3.2% respectively). This situation is the same with Indonesia and Vietnam (which are also considered as the sleeping giants of Asia).

Source: IMF

GLOBAL TREND - BUSINESS MODEL

Businesses currently are so dynamic that according to IMF, resources are no longer a determining factor for success. Global trend suggests FDI changes from investing in the developed countries into injecting capital in the emerging nations, from Western to Eastern, vertical integration employees to horizontal breadth entrepreneurs, from elite to mass production, rivalry to healthy competition and even from men to women. It is not the strongest… nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that us the most adaptable to change – According to Charles Darwin.

The traditionally business approach of the Porter’s Five Forces model and relying on sales (product oriented) is no longer acceptable. In contras the new business models of stakeholder oriented is more critical and guess what, resources lies at the very bottom.

Entrepreneur must understand its client’s need by segmenting 'em from demographic to psychographic criteria. The value proposition must consists of a relevant purpose, clear product range architecture and always strive to engage in product feature innovation. Consumer engagement on the other hand must have characteristics of being authentic, clear message, incorporate emotional triggers and deployed in multiple channels. Profit formula should take into consideration the value assigned by customer, production cost, substitutes products and competitors.

Eventually one need to perform unique set of activities towards the business (niche) before decided on the options of where to get the resources from. The above model is very much contradicted to the traditional approach of ensuring the availability of resources prior to production.

HPA

Two major criteria that need to be considered by the HPA management; being dynamic in its offering i.e. looking into maximizing potential of their stakeholders and control its value chain. These are two characteristics of success, at least from my point of view. The management firstly needs to understand their customer, their preference in making decision, clearer product range etc. Certain aspect need to be reconsidered; for examples broaden its perspective and widen its marketing scope. Example of broaden perspective; venturing into services industry i.e. Al-Rahnu gold investment, Islamic financing etc.

Secondly taking into consideration the first criteria, it would be best if HPA is in the control of its value chain i.e. logistic, channel of communication, dealer (and trader) etc to the extent of having a supplier from the above said sleeping giants. The key for sustainability is to invest (the best form of defense is to attack?) and “If opportunity doesn’t knock, just build a door”.

P/s - I recently joined HPA...and the above thought triggered from the recent Business Planning workshop. 

Look China & India Policy?

Can you imagine the kind of economic force that could arise if India & China could hold together? For many years Asian countries especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand look at the US and Western countries as their links of economy or in a simpler term ‘an economic standard benchmark’. This is quite natural as we always viewed the US and western countries as very superior in its economy as well in intellectual strength. However, when the relationship is too tight and when the European shows their social and economic weaknesses, we are also in danger of having that timid relationship.

Although Tun M back in the 80s suggesting a ‘Look East’ policy, never across in our mind the economic super strength of the Chinese and the Indian could lead the world in days to come. Some economist says if the West is to recover from their current economic state, it is necessary for them to rely on the strengths of India and China, and to not do so will be an economic suicide. Japanese was the target due to its technology advancement and how Tun M would like the people to change their mindset towards an industrial country from the earlier agriculture (walaupun akhirnya pemindahan teknologi seperti wawasan Tun ke atas penubuhan Proton tidak menjadi kenyataan sepenuhnya kerana Jepun yang sangat kedekut ilmu).

Jawaharlal Nehru before he goes on to become the first PM of India had uttered the same view that goes like this…“If India and China hold together, the future of Asia is secured.” What Nehru said 60 years ago is very relevant today. That is how important the two nations can play for Asian when they can go hand in hand. I’m not saying that we should leave out the US and the European because knowledge wise they are way ahead of us. However, psychologically we can now put India and China as our next economic standard benchmark, if not social.

Now look into a smaller angle. What if the Malays from both political parties unite and work together to ensure the rise of Islamic’s Nur in Malaysia. Don’t you think we could conquer the world too? I’ll leave that for your thought.

P/s – I look forward for another round of AAC meeting to be chaired by Tun M in August.

Sustainability

Petronas should retain 50% of its profits for re-investment

The Star Online, 5th July 2010, Joshua Foong

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government should legislate that Petronas retains at least 50% of its profit for the purpose of re-investment, DAP chief economist Tony Pua said. He said Petronas was still giving out high dividends worth RM30bil to the Government, despite a sharp drop in its profits for the 2010 financial year. The Barisan Nasional-led federal government risked jeopardising the national oil company's profitability if it kept imposing such requirements on Petronas, Pua claimed.

Pua also warned that the dividend payouts could constrain the company's growth plans and re-investment prospects. "A company should only have a high dividend payout ratio when it no longer has use of the profits to generate additional future profits, which is clearly not the case for the capital-intensive oil and gasindustry," he said in a press conference at Parliament lobby Monday. "The dividend paid by Petronas must be dictated by the needs of the company and not by the wants of the shareholders, which in this case is the Malaysian government," said Pua.

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Kali ini aku setuju dengan Tony Pua.

PETRONAS mesti dibenarkan untuk beroperasi sebagai sebuah syarikat korporat rather than jadi CSR kepada kerajaan. PETRONAS kena survive, sustain sebab kerajaan bergantung 40% kepadanya. Sekiranya PETRONAS hanya dibenarkan menggunakan 15 – 20% daripada keuntungannya (yang semakin menyusut) pasti PETRONAS tidak dapat lagi bersaing di pasaran global. Kos penyelenggaraan semakin meningkat dan tidak selari dengan harga minyak mentah di pasaran yang semakin menyusut. Akhirnya, untuk memastikan kantung kerajaan sentiasa berisi, PETRONAS mungkin nanti akan melepaskan sebahagian daripada tanggungannya dan yang paling dikhuatiri apabila PETRONAS tidak lagi melihat R&D sebagai penyumbang kepada masa depan syarikat.

Ada benarnya PETRONAS boleh menyumbang kepada perkembangan KDNK dengan mengurangkan pelaburan luar negara dan memfokus kepada pelaburan domestik. Dengan kekuatan yang ada PETRONAS boleh merancakkan pertumbuhan dalam negara namun ianya akan menjadi setback kepada keupayaan PETRONAS dalam jangka masa panjang. PETRONAS mesti maju ke hadapan dan tidak boleh menukar portfolio pelaburan sewenang-wenangnya. Dan pastinya untuk menutup mulut pengkritik, memberikan ole-ole dalam bentuk peningkatan gaji (seperti yang diamalkan sekarang) bukanlah penyelesaian masalah.

KETIRISAN

Kita juga tidak mahu nanti segala pelaburan domestik yang dibuat oleh PETRONAS akhirnya akan menjadi satu industri besar ’ali baba’ kepada towkey-towkey besar (yang pastinya ditunggangi oleh ahli-ahli politik). Akhirnya yang dikejar tak dapat yang dikendong berciciran. Rakyat juga yang akan merana.

Mudahnya perkara di atas dapat disimpulkan dengan analogi yang lebih kurang begini..

Cik Mah berniaga kecil-kecilan menjual karipap dan kuih lapis sebagai sebahagian daripada penjana ekonominya. Hari ini dia menggunakan RM10 sebagai modal membuat kuih dengan harapan membawa pulang RM2 sebagai keuntungan. Namun setelah mendapat keuntungan RM2 itu dia mula lupa diri. Dia menggunakan keuntungan itu dan RM2 daripada modal perniagaan untuk membeli peralatan solek (memandangkan dia seorang janda berhias). Hari ke hari dia gagal menangani ketirisan tersebut (i.e. nafsu membelinya), akhirnya dia terpaksa meminta pertolongan adiknya yang juga seorang penjual popia.

Disebabkan adik Cik Mah amat menyayangi Cik Mah, terpaksalah dia memberi pinjam sebahagian daripada modal dan keuntungannya kepada Cik Mah. Namun begitu sebagai implikasi kepada sayang tersebut, terpaksalah adik Cik Mah melupakan hasrat beliau untuk menembusi pasaran Jepun yang amat berminat dengan popia-popia Malaysia.

Di akhir cerita akibat tidak dapat juga menangani masalah nafsu membelinya, Cik Mah terpaksalah meminjam kepada ceti haram yang kemudiannya menjualkan janda berhias tersebut kepada kongsi gelap kerana gagal melangsaikan hutang piutang. Adiknya pula terpaksa menjualkan perniagaan beliau kepada mamak Mydin sebab kekurangan modal pusingan.

Moral of the story, lu pikir la sendiri… sesekali jeling la kat Greece.

MBE (Memang Bergetah Engkau!)

Ada la satu makhluk Allah tu wawasan dia nak jadi cantik. Macam-macam dia bikin supaya jadi cantik dan gebu. Pagi petang dia buat facial, makan vitamin 4-5 bijik sehari, bersenam bagai nak rak dsbgnya. Dia memang dah cantik dah sebenarnya tapi sebab jiwa dalamannya yang berkeceramuk dengan nafsu yang nakkan lebih cantik, dia sangup berhabisan dengan kosmetik yang pelbagai. Habis duit gaji bulan-bulan, siap hutang lagi dengan ceti dengan nilai hutang melebihi 300 billion! Dijangkakan dia akan muflis lagi 9 tahun kalau masih dalam keadaan sekarang.

Manusia memang begitu sifatnya. Bagi aku ada lebih baik sekiranya dia mencantikkan bahagian ‘dalaman’ daripada luaran. Rakan-rakan dan taulan memandang tak berkelip memerhatikan bilalah agaknya dia akan rebah tersungkur ke bumi? Tapi dia masih jugak tak sedar diri…

Tapi tak apelah, at least dulu dia begini, sekarang dah jadi macam ni…

P/s – Model Baru Ekonomi – Model lama dah elok dah, tapi selagi ketirisan, kebocoran tak dijaga, apa model sekalipun (termasuklah Gisele Bunchen yang sebulan sekali tiris jugak) takkan berjaya. Cayalah cakap aku..

Pekerja Berinovasi Pemacu Transformasi (fuhh!!...)

Fuhh!!!.....The Queen Control?

Antara Dua Darjat

Antara Kartika & Mirzan? Antara judi ekor, kuda longkang & perjudian sukan?

Si Kartika peminum arak akhirnya dihukum dengan hukuman ’maha berat lagi hebat’ iaitu melakukan kerja-kerja sukarela walaupun dalam masa yang sama Si Mirzan dibenarkan menerajui konglomerat arak Filipina. Si pengusaha kedai game judi dibenteras habis-habisan DBI tapi dalam masa yang sama ’proposal’ Berjaya Group untuk menyediakan kemudahan perjudian sukan akan dipertimbangkan dengan sewajarnya.

Semua di atas haram hukumnya walau bagaimanapun kita melihatnya atau mendarjatkannya. Itu yang Ustaz aku kata dulu. Ustaz tu pun dah arwah tak taulah kalau Ustaz2 sekarang ni kata haram tapi darjat ada rendah, ada tinggi pulak?

Kata Mirzan everything is about business. Dengan pembelian saham bernilai lebih RM2.9 billion, sememangnya ianya business yang akan menguntungkan. Tambahan pulak beer dan seangkatan dengannya dah jadi minuman ruji puak2 kat Filipina sana. Tapi kata Ustaz aku lagi, tak kiralah apa pun business, untung banyak mana pun, babi tetap babi, arak tetap arak dan anything in between i.e. pemandu van, pemotong dagingnya, pecacai pengangkat botol, pembeli, pengguna semuanya ada share dosa. Inikan pulak Tuan Director. Tu Ustaz aku la yang kata. Tak tau la pulak kalau Ustaz2 sekarang ni kata haram tapi darjat ada rendah, ada tinggi pulak? (Macam pernah kudengar ayat ini tadi!)

CADANGAN

Baru2 ni heboh cerita proposal Berjaya Group dan Najib dalam nada yang malu2 cipan mengiyakan untuk mempertimbangkan secara mendalam cadangan tersebut. Betul, pendapatan yang diraih dari perjudian ini tak ternilai hasilnya. Banyak kerajaan dapat duit nanti lagipun RM160 juta kena keluar very soon untuk bailout Maika Holdings (dan dalam masa yang sama ambil hati pengundi2 India Hulu Selangor yang seramai 17% tu). Bayangkanlah RM850 juta sehari duit bertukar tangan hasil dari perjudian yang telah dihalalkan oleh kerajaan (Tu belum masuk lagi kuda longkang, judi game, dsbg yang belum dihalalkan dan dianggarkan juga bernilai ratusan juta ringgit sehari). Kalau masuk musim2 World Cup ni jangan ceritalah. Mungkin itu yang nampak di mata Berjaya Group dan sebahagian pemimpin2 kita.

Soalan: Kemana kita nak dibawak ni yop? Udah2 le tu.

P/s – Posting di atas ditujukan kepada aku sendiri sebab masa sekolah2 dulu pernah menang RM20 ringgit betting bola. Kaya aku masa tu ..

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Mirzan says San Miguel stake is just business

The Malaysian Insider: 13 Sept. 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 – Mirzan Mahathir has defended his investment group’s stake in Philippines conglomerate San Miguel Corp (SMC), saying the company was well on the way to diversifying substantially from its brewery business.

In a letter to The Malaysian Insider yesterday, Mirzan said San Miguel Corp had decided to shift its attention to the infrastructure, public utility and energy requirements of the Philippines, from its core brewery business. “Since Kirin Holdings of Japan acquired a significant direct ownership stake in the brewery division, this will result in a dramatic change in SMC’s revenue mix, with beverages expected to contribute less than 15% of total sales by next year,” he said in the letter.

The Malaysian Insider had reported this week that Mirzan, the eldest son of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was recently appointed to the board of San Miguel Corp, the biggest food and beverage conglomerate in the Philippines and the owner of San Miguel Brewery Inc. San Miguel Brewery controls 95 per cent of the Philippine beer market. The company has made San Miguel Beer for more than a century. The beer is brewed in the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, and is sold in 60 markets worldwide, according to the company’s Web site.

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Sports betting to become legal in Malaysia in time for World Cup?

BetAsia: 24 Mar 2010

Sports betting in Malaysia may be legalized in time for the World Cup this summer if the Berjaya Group, a major Malaysian conglomerate with interests in gaming, is successful in their government application to operate sports betting activities throughout the country. The Berjaya Group unsuccessfully lobbied the government to make sports betting legal back in 2004, but since then sports betting has gained widespread acceptance in neighbouring country Singapore, giving optimism to applicants that the government may have a rethink. While the Berjaya Group's second attempt to legalize sports betting in Malaysia is likely to be controversial with several sectors of society, there are many who think it should be allowed and taxed by the government, given that many Malaysians are already betting illegally on sports.

ADVERTISEMENT

"It will likely divert money from illegal football betting. It will also take some of the gaming market share lost to Singapore with the opening of its first casino recently," said an industry observer, according to a report on Asia One News. In a 2006 report, Mayban Securities estimated that the value of daily legal gaming in Malaysia was RM850 million, with illegal gambling estimated at around the same.

Hock Nam, Jijik & MEB

Deii..ini bukan HeShame la. Org tua ni tak biasa tarik balik dia punya perkataan apatah lagi mohon maaf. Jangan haraplah nak dapatkan permohonan maaf Tun Dr M, walaupun ko kata dia racist tahap jijik.

Geng2 ni standard la. Kalau Guan Eng, Kit Siang dah tak bising pasal Melayu, sambung pulak Hock Nam, Si Pin. Pastu tu MCA pulak nak jawatan sana-sini mula la berkokok nanti kata MEB ada diskriminasi la, tak adil la. Aku serius respect la geng2 ni punya kerjasama. Mesti ada check and balance.. Yang tak paham2 lagi bangsa aku ni la...

Bila PERKASA nak jadi mekanisme check and balance, Melayu jugak yang tukar nama jadi PERKOSA!!

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Gerakan: Ucapan Mahathir ‘Menjijikkan’

Malaysiakini: Mac 29, 2010

Ketua Gerakan Pulau Pinang, Datuk Teng Hock Nam menyelar bekas perdana menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berhubung peranannya merasmikan mesyuarat agung tahunan Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa).

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini Teng juga membidas negarawan itu yang menyampaikan ucapan yang didakwanya bersifat perkauman dan 'menjijikan'.

Teng berkata Mahathir juga menggunakan peluang berucapa di perhimpunan "NGO pelampau kanan Melayu" untuk menyerang Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan konsep 1Malaysia yang diperjuangkannya.

“Perkasa mempunyai pemikir yang merupakan pelampau bangsa dan agama. Ia jelas bertentangan dengan idea tolak ansur, berniat baik serta konsep harmoni sosial yang cuba diterapkan dalam 1Malaysia,” kata Teng.

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MEB

Aku nak komen satu perkara berkenaan matlamat dasar baru kerajaan (MEB) ni iaitu matlamat untuk menaikkan pendapatan per kapita daripada US$7K kepada US$15K. Government has yet to unveil the strategy, initiative and action plan towards achieving this vision tapi kalau takat retorik tanpa implementation yang betul, nasib malang DEB akan timbul semula. Bagi aku kegagalan DEB dulu bukan pada matlamat, strategi atau initiatifnya tetapi pada implementasi.

Kalau masih bergantung kepada pekerja asing dari jurutera-jurutera kanan sehinggalah pekerja di restoran2 mamak, jangan haraplah pendapatan per kapita akan meningkat. Kita perlu membezakan tenaga kerja Malaysia dan China, India, Vietnam misalnya kerana sampai sudah pun kita tak akan dapat menandingi harga buruh mereka yang rendah.

Satu cara sahaja iaitu meningkatkan K-ekonomi i.e. meninggikan tahap expertise tenaga kerja Malaysia sedia ada. Tanpa K-ekonomi sampai bila2 pun kita akan ketinggalan dari negara2 maju seperti Singapura, Hong Kong dan Taiwan.

Yang keduanya hapuskan subsidi supaya kita boleh berdaya maju & kompetitif, walaupun GST, harga minyak yang meningkat, akan menidakpopularkan (betul ke ayat ni) kerajaan sedia ada. Ingat kos sara hidup tak pernah mempunyai trend menurun....

Kesimpulan cerita pendek di atas: -

i. Jangan bising kalau ada pihak nak buat inisiatif untuk rakyat be it atas dasar politik sekalipun sebab kita sendiri tak boleh fikir ke tahap itu, so jangan la banyak komen.

ii. Kalau nak harapkan tenaga kerja Malaysia sedia ada, syarikat2 berasaskan keuntungan akan pergi kepada tenaga kerja asing melainkan tahap pemikiran orang kita meningkat.

iii. Kerajaan takkan boleh tampung subsidi manjang. Sebelum kompetitif kerajaan hilang, baiklah kita berubah. Kalau kita tak transform, habis negara ni nanti kena transform oleh geng2 atas tu (bak kata deme geng2 tu Traders Then, Invader Now!...)

P/s - Fikir-fikirkan lah...baca juga posting lama di sini dan sini...